aimlessly at sea, the rudderless Swift of Paget is safely home -- well almost.

The 31-foot sloop abandoned at sea on July 9 by owner Mr. Tom Wadson, who found himself in the midst of tropical storm Barry's wrath on a return trip to Bermuda, was rescued this week by a Canadian ship.

The drifting yacht was spotted last Thursday about 400 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada by a federal Canadian fisheries protection ship.

Wadson learned of the sighting through the Halifax Rescue Coordination Centre, which he had been communicating with. He has also been liaising with Bermuda Harbour Radio. And during an earlier sighting, he hired a plane to fly out to check on her.

After a reward offer from Wadson, and the captain of the ship's agreement to accept it and donate the money to a children's "wish'' charity, Swift of Paget was towed to the coastal town of St. John's.

"She's afloat and that's all I need to know,'' a delighted Wadson said yesterday. "I've appointed an agent to deal with her over there and I am flying up soon to see her.'' Mr. Wadson, a farmer by trade, said she apparently still had her mast and had no serious holes. However, it would be a major job to make her seaworthy again.

He did not foresee having her back on the Island until next summer.

Wadson raced the sloop in the Bermuda Offshore Cruising Association regattas.

LOST BOAT LOST YACHT